Zurich Indie Travel Guide

Zürich is not Switzerland’s capital (that’s Bern) but it is the
country’s largest and otherwise most important city. If you’ve got
a lot of money in the bank this is a great place to come visit it, particularly
since you’ll need to make a withdrawal to afford to stick around long. But
things are changing in Zürich. Sure, this is Switzerland so things are still
spotless and well organized, but there are new trendy bars and restaurants that
are helping destroy the city’s image of being one of Europe’s tourism
grannies.

What To Do

The Kunsthaus (the Museum of Fine Arts) holds permanent and temporary collections
that are far more important than you’d expect to find in a city of around
400,000. A wide variety of pieces from the masters are on display here, including
ones by Van Gogh, Monet, and Rodin. The Museum of Design has some fascinating
and surprising displays that cover areas of design you’d normally not expect
to see in a museum.

You can climb (or take a train) up the Uetliberg hill overlooking the city for
great views, but it’s also the start of the unique Planetary Walk. This
is an 8-mile walk along the ridge that shows the planets of the solar system in
proper scale. And speaking of hills, skiing is within easy reach of Zürich.
Flumserberg is the closest major ski resort and it’s easy to go in the morning
and come back that same evening.

Getting There

With Switzerland’s central location this is a very popular city to get
to by train. This is a major transit hub for the region so Eurail
Pass holders or just normal travelers will often find themselves crossing
through on their way somewhere else. If you are coming from any further away
you’ll want to book
a flight into Zurich International Airport (code: ZRH). The airport is a
bit out of town, but it’s on the rail line so you can get to the center
quickly and cheaply. Also, many of the larger hotels offer free shuttle services
so check that option as well.

Where To Stay

This is an expensive city in almost every way, but there are a few hostels
in Zürich. There are plenty of hotels
in Zürich as well, but most tend to cater to the luxury and business
travelers so it’s not easy to find cheap rooms, particularly during busy
periods. With the business traffic and winter resorts nearby this city can be
booked up nearly any time so it pays to plan ahead if you are hoping to save
some money.